Hitch pin lock systems

Abstract

A hitch system is described for coupling an object to a vehicle hitch. The hitch system can have a connector adapted to connect to a vehicle hitch having a connector channel that passes through the connector and has an internal threaded section; a lock rod having, a first section wherein at least a portion of the first section is threaded wherein the internal threaded section of the connector are adapted to receive the threads of the first section of the lock rod and a second section; and a locking member having a first locking member channel having an inside diameter and an outside diameter wherein the inside diameter of the locking member channel is smaller than the diameter of the second section and a lock to move between a locked position and an opened position wherein the second section of the lock rod is secured to the locking member when the second section is disposed within the locking member channel and the lock is in the locked position and is removable when the lock is in the opened position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hitch system, comprising;
 a connector having a connector channel that passes through the connector, wherein the connector channel has a threaded section formed directly on an inner surface of the connector channel and an adjoining non-threaded section; 
 a lock rod comprising a first section and a second section, wherein at least a portion of the first section is threaded and wherein the threaded section of the connector channel is adapted to engage the threads of the first section of the lock rod and wherein the lock rod further comprises a tapered section located between the first section and the second section; and 
 a locking member having a locking member channel disposed therein, the locking member channel having an inside diameter, an outside diameter, and a tapered end portion, wherein the locking member is configured to receive the second section of the lock rod and the tapered end portion is configured to engage the tapered section of the lock rod; and 
 a lock configured to move between a locked position and an opened position, wherein the second section of the lock rod is secured to the locking member when the second section of the lock rod is disposed within the locking member channel and the lock is in the locked position. 
 
     
     
       2. The hitch system of  claim 1  wherein the threaded section of the connector is between 0.27 inches and 1.5 inches in length. 
     
     
       3. The hitch system of  claim 1  wherein the non-threaded section is located between a first end of the connector channel and the threaded section. 
     
     
       4. The hitch system of  claim 3  wherein the first unthreaded section is between 0.25 inches and 1.5 inches in length. 
     
     
       5. The hitch system of  claim 3  wherein the connector has a second non-threaded section located between a second end of the connector channel and the threaded section. 
     
     
       6. The hitch system of  claim 5  wherein the second unthreaded section is between 0.25 inches and 1.5 inches in length. 
     
     
       7. The hitch system of  claim 1  wherein the connector is made from a solid bar material. 
     
     
       8. The hitch system of  claim 1  wherein the connector is made from an aluminum solid bar material. 
     
     
       9. The hitch system of  claim 1  wherein when the lock rod is threaded into the connector and secured to the locking member, the locking member channel is inserted into the connector channel. 
     
     
       10. A hitch pin lock, comprising;
 a lock rod comprising a first section wherein at least a portion of the first section is threaded and a second section having an outer diameter that is smaller than an outer diameter of the first section, wherein the first section and the second section are joined by a tapered section; and 
 a locking member having a first locking member channel with a tapered end portion, the tapered end portion of the first locking member is configured to engage the tapered section of the lock rod when the second section of the lock rod is disposed within the first locking member channel; and 
 a lock configured to move between a locked position and an opened position, wherein the second section of the lock rod is secured to the locking member when the second section of the lock rod is disposed within the first locking member channel and the lock is in the locked position and is removable from the locking member when the lock is in the opened position. 
 
     
     
       11. The hitch pin lock of  claim 10  wherein the first locking member channel has an inside diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the second section of the lock rod and is configured to receive the second section of the lock rod. 
     
     
       12. The hitch pin lock of  claim 11  wherein the inside diameter of the first locking member channel is smaller than the outer diameter of the first section of the lock rod. 
     
     
       13. The hitch pin lock of  claim 10  wherein the lock rod has a hex bolt head. 
     
     
       14. The hitch pin lock of  claim 10  wherein the locking member further comprises a second locking member channel that is perpendicular to the first locking member channel. 
     
     
       15. A hitch system, comprising;
 a connector having a connector channel at least partially disposed therein, wherein an inner surface of the connector channel comprises at least one non-threaded section adjoining a threaded section formed directly on the inner surface of the connector channel that is between 0.27 inches and 1.5 inches in length and located between a first unthreaded section and a second unthreaded section within the connector channel, wherein each of the first unthreaded section and the second unthreaded section is between 0.25 inches and 1.5 inches in length; 
 a lock rod comprising a first section and a second section having an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the first section, wherein at least a portion of the first section is threaded and wherein the threaded section of the connector channel is adapted to engage the threads of the first section of the lock rod and wherein the lock rod further comprises a tapered section located between the first section and the second section; and 
 a locking member having a locking member channel disposed therein, the locking member channel having an inside diameter, an outside diameter, and a tapered end portion, wherein the inside diameter of the locking member channel is larger than the outside diameter of the second section of the lock rod and is configured to receive the second section of the lock rod and the tapered end portion is configured to engage the tapered section of the lock rod; and 
 a lock configured to move between a locked position and an opened position wherein the second section of the lock rod is secured to the locking member when the second section of the lock rod is disposed within the locking member channel and the lock is in the locked position and is removable from the locking member when the lock is in the opened position, 
 wherein the locking member channel is at least partially disposed within the connector channel when the threads on the first section of the lock rod engage the threaded section within the connector channel and the second section of the lock rod is secured to the locking member. 
 
     
     
       16. The hitch system of  claim 15  further comprising a hitch basket and wherein the connector is disposed within at least a portion of the hitch basket. 
     
     
       17. The hitch system of  claim 16  wherein the hitch basket is fabricated from an aluminum solid bar material. 
     
     
       18. A hitch system, comprising;
 a connector having a connector channel that at least partially passes through the connector, wherein the connector channel is only partially threaded; 
 a lock rod comprising a first section that is at least partially threaded, a second section having a smooth outside diameter that is smaller than an outside diameter of the first section, and a tapered section disposed between and joining the first section and the second section, wherein the threads within the connector channel are adapted to engage the threads of the first section of the lock rod; 
 a locking member having a locking member channel disposed therein and a tapered end portion configured to engage the tapered section of the lock rod, wherein the locking member channel is configured to receive the second section of the lock rod; and 
 a lock configured to secure the second section of the lock rod within the locking member channel. 
 
     
     
       19. The hitch system of  claim 18  wherein the connector is made from an aluminum solid bar material. 
     
     
       20. The hitch system of  claim 18  wherein at least a portion of the locking member is located within the non-threaded section of the connector channel when the threads within the connector channel engage the threads of the first section of the lock rod.